Gladstone & The Irish Question

What was Gladstone’s level of success in dealing with the “Irish Question”? He looked at the whole complex of issues in a fresh way and that gave the Irish Catholics hope for the future. Evidence for The disestablishment of the Church of Ireland was an act of genius! So obvious, so simple, but no-one had [...]

WHAT IF? The Corsican Crisis 1768

One of the more fascinating “what ifs” of European history has to be the handling of the Corsican Crisis of 1768-69.

4 Reasons why Britain conquered the World

Four vital factors in the Rise of Empire Britain developed through a combination of dynastic shifts, strategic trade outposts and aggressive nationalistic policies, expressed through its navy, into a position of world-wide authority (if not supremacy) between the years 1660 and 1760. It is tempting to consider the words of Horace Seeley, writing in 1870, [...]

Charles II: Accidental Architect of Empire?

It can be argued that Charles II was the real architect of the British Empire. Though perhaps, he wasn’t an intentional one

Counterfactual: Slavery & the American Constitution

Counterfactual History – slavery by Jon Mandle on September 13, 2006 Although the U.S. Constitution of 1787 does not include the word “slavery”, there are five more-or-less direct references to it, and other more indirect references. Article IV, Section 2, is the fugitive slave clause – any person “held in service or labor in one [...]

What if, King George?

I’ve been checking out the “what if” material that’s come out in recent years in counterfactual analysis of history. I must admit to really enjoying it, especially with bright A level students who are just getting into the first flush of academic reasoning. I wonder if there’s another book here. We were talking about the [...]

Rise of Empire 1660-1770

6525B – Paper 5B Mark Scheme The Making of the British Empire, c.1660-c.1770 1. How important was Anglo-French rivalry in explaining the expansion of Britain’s overseas Empire in the period c.1660-c.1770? (60) Indicative content The question requires candidates to consider the expansion of the British Empire in the period c.1660-c.1770, and to consider the influence [...]

The Making of the British Empire

1. Introduction: “The first Empire was built by pirates” (Niall Ferguson)

Britain and “Abroad”: The Rise of Empire 1660-1688

Foreign and Colonial Policy 1660-1760 Since 1640, Portugal had been fighting a war of independence against Spain after a dynastic union of 60 years between the crowns of Spain and Portugal. Portugal had been helped by France, but in the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659 Portugal was abandoned by its French ally. Upon Charles’ [...]

Analysing “Empire”: the Boer Camps

The most significant threat to the British public’s acceptance of the Boer war came in its latter phase, with the 1901-02 scandal over the South African concentration camps established by the British army.